Roost Training

[welcometothefunnyfarm]

I searched for this topic and read a number of threads, but I wanted to post with my specific circumstance to see if it changes the recommendation.

I have six 17-week old pullets who were just moved to a new property (and thus a new coop) a little over a week ago. At the old place, they were in a small pre-fab coop with the roosting bars just an inch or two off the bedding. I had blocked off the nesting boxes to avoid a pile of chickens in the corner, and I noticed that a few slept on the roosting bars and the rest did not. Now, they have a 2x4 roosting ladder in their new - much larger - coop.

I have been putting them on their roosts every single night, but they do not seem to be catching on. Every night I walk in after dark to find them in a chicken pile in the corner. Each time, I put all six of them on the roosts and immediately 2-3 of them jump down and return to the corner. The other 3, sometimes 4, remain on the roosts, but they never get up there on their own. I have seen a chicken or two up there during the day, but only a couple of times...they don't seem to care for it day or night. Since they are already 17 weeks old, I'm anxious to have them learn how to roost, and I appreciate any help you can offer!

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Is there a way to make a movable roost, that would start out a few inches above the coop floor, and then moved 4-6” higher every several days, until they get used to things? Maybe a 2x4 set into the holes of cement blocks, for instance.

In other words, re-create the low roosts of the old coop and then ease them upwards.